Pumping apparatus



May 27, 1958 A. P. RUTH PUMPING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20. 1954 l /nN UN nhl P At M hw n M w ,2 5

ATTORNEYS es e PUNIPING APPARATUS Arthur P. Ruth, Houston, Tex.

Application August 20, 1954, Serial No. 451,203

2 Claims. (Cl. 10B-260) This invention relates to pumping apparatus, and more particularly to pumping equipment of the jet or venturi tube type having jet mechanism of improved construction and arrangement by which increased pumping efficiency may be obtained.

While not limited to such use the invention nds particular application in connection with water supply systems wherein Water is pumped from a source into a storage receptacle against the pressure of a column or head or" water. Such systems often make use of a closed tank into which water is pumped by some suitable means, such as a pump of the centrifugal or impeller type, whose operation is controlled by the pressure in the tank, and water under pressure from the tank is utilized to operate jet mechanism in conjunction with such a pump.

in pumping systems of this type, as heretofore commonly constructed, venturi tube mechanism is provided which is designed to deliver liquid from the source to the receptacle, and as ressure against which the venturi mechanism operates increases, the volume of liquid which is delivered decreases. Thus, venturi mechanism which is designed to obtain continued delivery of Water from the source to the receptacle until the pressure in the receptacle is built up to the desired value, is often inetective at lower pressures to provide the volume of ow required to maintain the desired supply of water.

Pumping equipment of this type is commonly used in connection with household water supply systems in which a supply tank of relatively small capacity is employed, and when water is withdrawn from such a system in large volumes, as when the system is used for Watering lawns or gardens, the pumping equipment is frequently incapable of delivering water in sufficient volume to keep the tank replenished.

rThe present invention has for its chief object the provision of pumping apparatus of the jet or venturi tube type embodying venturi mechanism of improved construction having means which is operable upon the occurrence of a change in the pressure ot the liquid delivered by the mechanism to vary the volume of the liquid delivered.

Another object of the invention is to provide pumping apparatus of the venturi type embodying venturi mechanism which includes means whereby the volume of liquid delivered is greatly increased upon the occurrence of a predetermined decrease in the pressure of the liquid delivered.

A further object of the invention is to provide pumping apparatus of the venturi type having venturi tube mechanism through which liquid is delivered and including a passageway for by-passing a portion of the liquid around the venturi tube, and in which means is provided which is operable upon a decrease in the pressure of the liquid deli ered below a predetermined pressure to open the by pass and upon an increase in the pressure of the liquid delivered beyond a predetermined pressure to close the by-pass.

Another object ct the invention is the provision of .1 tilted dtates Patent me are 2,835,l26 patented May 2:7, 1958 pumping apparatus of the venturi type having venturi tube mechanism which includes a plurality of venturi tubes arranged in iiuid ow relation and including means operable upon a decrease in the pressure of the liquid delivered below a predetermined pressure to cause said tubes to be operated simultaneously and upon an increase in the pressure of the liquidV delivered above a predetermined pressure, to cause one of said tubes to become inoperative.

A still further object ot thev invention is to provide pumping apparatus or" the venturi type having jet and tube mechanism which is of simple design and rugged construction, capable of long withstanding the continuous use and extreme conditions of exposure to which such devices are likely to be subjected.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the invention may best be understood from thefollowing detailed description, constituting a specication of the same, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevational view, partly in crosssection illustrating a liquid supply system embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 a longitudinal, central,v cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the structure of the venturi mechanism of the invention as illustrated inFigure l;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View, taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 illustrating a somewhat dit'erent type of liquid supply system embodying a modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing the structure of the venturi mechanism of the invention as illustrate-d in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the gures, the invention is illustrated in Figures l to 3 in connection with a water supply system which embodies a pressure tank and pump system wherein the venturi mechanism is positioned beneath the water in the tank and is operated in conjunction with a pump of conventional design such as a pump of the rotary impeller type. As shown in Figures l to 3, the system includes a pressure tank 1li or other suitable receptacle of conventional construction, into which an inlet pipe 12 leads from any suitable source of water supply such as a well or the like. Within the tank venturi mechanism is located, having a casing, generally designated 14, which has an inlet connected in communication with the inlet pipe 12, and whose outlet is connected to the inlet of a pump, indicated at 16 of suitable construction, such as a pump of the rotary impeller type, located in the tank beneath the level of the water therein and arranged to discharge into the tank. The pump 16 may be operated from any desired power source such as an electric motor 18, which is provided with pressure actuated control mechanism 20 of the usual type. The tank 1t) also has an outlet 22 which is located above the level of the pump and inlet pipe.

The venturi mechanism of this form of the invention comprises the casing 14, which is of generally tubular conliguration having an inlet connection 24 adapted to be connected in communication with the inlet of the pump lo, The casing has an inner web or partition 28 which defines an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber 32. A venturi tube 34 extends through the partition 28 through an opening 36 therein, with the inlet end of the tube V mechanism for actuation thereof. a

opening into the inlet chamber 30 and the discharge end of the tube opening into the discharge chamber 32. The

casing also has an opening 38 leading from the'exterior Ythereof into the inlet chamber 39, through which a jet nozzle 40Yextends, whose discharge end is positioned to discharge into the inlet end of the venturi tube 34.

" f The partition 28 is also shaped to Aform a valve cageV 42 between the inlet chamber 30 and discharge chamber 32,

which cage has an opening 44 providing a valve seat. A valve, such as a ball valve 46 is movably disposed in the cage142 in position to move into and out of closing contact I with the seat 44, andmeans is provided, such as the snap ring 48 for preventing the ball 46 from escaping from the cagerinto the discharge chamber 32. The arrange- `1ent of the cage and valve is'suchk that when the pressure thedischarge chamber, but upon'an increase of pressure in the discharge chamber beyond a predetermined limit above Y the pressure inthe inlet chamber the valve will be closed.

. InV the operation ofY the above described form 'ofV the invention,.upon operation of the pump 16, water will be drawn through the inlet pipe 12 and through the venturi mechanismrrto be discharged by the pump into the tank.` During such operation water under pressure may ow fromthe tank through the jet nozzle 40 and will be discharged through the Venturitube 34 to cause water to be drawn from the inletV chamber Sil through the venturi tube into the discharge chamber 32 to assist the pump 16. When the pressure in the tank is low, the pump `1 6 will cause 'a substantial reduction in the pressure in "the outlet'charnber 32 below the pressure in theinlet chamber 30 and the valve V46 will'be moved to open position to allow'a relatively'large volume of water toow 'through the mechanism into thetank. When the pressure in the `tank rises to a predetermined value, however, 'the pump 16 will be ineffective to maintain a suiiiciently low pressure inthe outlet 'chamberV 32, and the valve 46 will Y thereupon move toclosed'position. Due to the higher rpressure which has then been built up in the tank, however, the jet nozzle V40 and venturi tube 34 will'continueY to operate, delivering Awater atea reduced volumeY until the pressure in Vthe vtank reachesA the limit at whichV the l pumping apparatus will function. Y

By this arrangement it becomes possible yto provide a Y water supply system which is capable of operation to fsupply a relatively large volume of water at a somewhat reduced pressure, and which will also supply water at a l somewhat higher pressure when the volume required is smaller. Thus, a water supply system, in which water is Y provided at a-pressure of 40 to 50 poundsrpei square inch, lin the volume usually required for ordinary house- 'Y hold use, may be adapted to 4supply water at a somewhat lower pressure in greater volume,'su ch as might be-required for watering ofv livestock or gardens. Moreover,

Yby the use of the system and apparatus or the invention the replenishment of the supply of water in Vthe tank may be accomplished muchl Vmore rapidly than bythe use of conventional pumping apparatus of this type, thus making more effective andeh'jcientruse of the available power.

A somewhat diierent form of the invention is illus- Ytrated in Figures 4, 5 and Vywherein the venturi mechanism is located outside of the tank it), or other receptacle, at some pointrremotc therefrom, such `as a well indicated at W. In this form of the invention an inlet pipe 12 is connected in communication with the discharge connection of the venturi mechanism and extends into the'tank wherein it is connected to the inletV of the pump Theatank lo also has an outlet'pipe 553 which is connected in communication with the interior of Vthe tank ybeneath the level of the water therein and through which water under pressure is supplied to the iet nozzle of the venturi and an outlet connection 26', which outlet connection is connected to the inlet pipe Vl2 through a secondary venturi tube 52. The casingv 14 has -an internal partition 23 which denes an inlet-chamber 38 and an outlet chamber 32. A primary venturi tube 34 extends through the partition 28 through an opening 36 therein, with the inlet end of the tube opening into the inlet chamber 35) and the outlet end thereof positioned to discharge into the inlet end of theV secondary venturi tube 52. The casing also has an opening .378V which leads into an interior pas-ik sageway S4 therein separate from the inlet chamber 35B and into which the pressure supply pipe S6 is threaded, *Y

there being an opening S6 in the partition 28 through 'which a jet nozzie '41@ extends whose inlet end is in communication Vith the passageway 54, and whose discharge end is positioned to discharge into the inlet end of the primary venturi tube 34.V Y

''he'partition 23 also has a portion annular groove 44 forming a valve seat. The portion of the casing beyond the valve seat 44 and between the i sameand the inlet'ot the secondary tube 52 forms a valve cage 42 within which a valve 46 is movably disposed, which Yvalve takes the form of an O-ring. The inlet end portion of the secondary venturi tube 52 together with Vthe valve cage 42' constitute a discharge chamberY corresponding to the discharge chamber 32 of the previously described form of the venturi mechanism of the invention.

The operationV of thismodication of the invention is similar to that of the previously described form of the same, the venturi Vmechanism being locatedpin the well W instead-of within the pressure tank. When the'press'ure` tank iti falls to a Vpredetermined lower value the pump 16' comes into operation to draw water from theV well throughthe venturi mechanism and the inlet pipe 12T and discharge'the same into thetank. VWhen the pressure within the tank is below a pre-determined pressure the Vpressure in the outlet chamber of the venturi mechanism will be lower than that in the .iniet chamber 30 and the valve 45u/ill move toopen position, as seen in dottedV lines in Figure 5, whereupon a relatively large volume of water,l may ow through the mechanism to the tank.

Water under pressure also flows from the tank through pressure supply pipe Si) to the jet nozzle 46 to actuate the primary venturi tube 34 to draw additional water through the venturi mechanism. Upon such'actuation of the primary venturiV tube this tube acts as a jet nozzle to actuate the secondary'venturi tube 52whereby'water is drawn from the inlet chamber 30 and discharged intoY supplied to the tank Ythrough the actuation ofthe primary I f venturi tube, until the pressure'in the tank rises Vto a'L point at which the pump 16 is no longerfoperated.

In this manner a large volume ,of water maybe quickly suppliedto fuliill a large demand such asin the case wherethe water is used for irrigation purposes, and whenA the Water is no longer required in large volume thetank will be quickly replenished to supplyY ordinary demands at a somewhat higher pressure. 7

Additional venturi tubes may be employed, `arranged in the same manner as described above, to provide -a multi-stage pumping system, if desired.

' The pumping apparatusfmay, of course, be errugvloyedV Vwith other types of supplytanks or receptacles than Vthose f illustrated herein whether open or closed.

Itwill thus be seen that the invention constructedrand operated in the manner described above provides pumping apparatus which is of simple design and economical 5S Vsurrounding the primary venturi tube 34' which is provided with an y manufacture, having few parts likely to become worn or out of order and in which the parts are easily replaceable for purposes of maintenance and repair.

While the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certain specific embodiments of the same, it will be understood that this is intended by way of illustration only and that numerous changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ot' the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Pumping apparatus comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a irst venturi tube in the casing positioned to receive uid from said inlet and to discharge the same toward said outlet, nozzle means in the casing having an inlet end in communication with a source of fluid under pressure and positioned to discharge such fluid in a direction to cause uid to ilow through said rst venturi tube from said inlet toward said outlet, said casing having a portion forming a passageway in communication with said inlet and said outlet exteriorly of said iirst venturi tube, valve means in the casing operable to close said passageway against the ow of fluid from said outlet toward said inlet, and a second venturi tube positioned to receive fluid from said outlet and whose inlet end extends into said passageway in position for engagement by said valve means to limit opening movement of said valve means.

2. Pumping apparatus comprising a easing having an inlet and an outlet, a rst venturi tube in the casing positioned to receive uid from said inlet and to discharge the same toward said outlet, nozzle means in the casing having an inlet end in communication with a source of fluid under pressure and positioned to discharge such uid in a direction to cause uid to ow through rst venturi tube from said inlet toward said outlet, said casing having a portion forming with said rst venturi tube an annular passageway in communication with said inlet and said outlet exteriorly of said rst venturi tube, means forming an annular valve seat in the passageway, an annular valve member movably positioned in the passageway for movement in one direction to engage said seat to close the passageway and in the other direction to open the passageway, a second venturi tube threadably connected to the casing in position to receive fluid from said first venturi tube and having an inlet end face positioned for engagement with said valve member to limit opening movement of the valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 314,237 Gorringe Mar. 24, 1885 2,275,627 Hartmann Mar. 10, 1942 2,475,918 Ruth July 12, 1949 2,621,596 Jacuzzi Dec. 16, 1952 

